U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Response to Vessel Grounding/Oil Spill off Unalaska Island

December 20, 2004: During shoreline surveys in Skan Bay, 232 birds, a minimum of 36 of which were oiled, were seen on December 13. On the next day 140 birds were observed, at least 124 of them were oiled. On December 15 there were 294 birds recorded in the area, a minimum of 196 of them oiled; and on December 16 183 birds, 104 or more of which were oiled, were counted. To date, little data on beached oiled wildlife has been obtained. Carcasses seen on land have had a much higher degree of oiling and many have been scavenged.

Bird species known to have been oiled from initial observations include: double-crested cormorant, pelagic cormorant, horned grebe, red-necked grebe, common loon, black scoter, harlequin duck, long-tailed duck, rock sandpiper, glaucous-winged gull, glaucous gull, common murre, pigeon guillemot, crested auklet, and whiskered auklet.

Considering this small section of beach (less than a mile) in relation to the broad area already impacted by the spill (and the amount of oil still remaining in the ship’s bow and stern sections), concern is growing about impacts to wildlife.

The numbers and varieties of wildlife that already have been, or potentially could be, impacted are significant. The Christmas bird count in Dutch Harbor, for example, routinely identifies more than 70 species of birds, many in concentrations numbering in the hundreds. Most of these species can be expected to occur in the spill area as well. Sea otters and other marine mammals, as well as fresh and saltwater fish and other marine species, are also found there. In addition, new birds, and new species of birds, are migrating into the area at this time and will continue to do so through the winter. Birds in the general area will also continue to move about in response to weather, etc.

Boats were recalled to Dutch Harbor on Sunday due to storm warnings, with east-northeast winds 45-55 knots, and hurricane force wind gusts 60 to 75 knots through Monday night.

The Service provides regularly updated information on the Selendang Ayu spill online. The Unified Command website is also a valuable source of up-to-date information.